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UPDATED: Domestic dispute led to businessman burning house with wife, four children

Lenus La Cruz, with severe burns, handcuffed to a bed at the Port Kaituma Hospital

The bodies of the mother and her four children who perished in a fire at Port Kaituma have been identified and investigators said the blaze apparently stemmed from a domestic dispute with her husband.

Those who perished are housewife Lurlene La Cruz, 39 years; her daughters Lea La Cruz, 14 years, and Lavette La Cruz, 3 years; and sons Labron La Cruz, 8 years, and Levon La Cruz, 1 year, were later found among the debris.

Businessman Linus La Cruz, 50 years, has been arrested. He sustained burns to his body and is under guard at the Port Kaituma Hospital.

Police said that about 8:45 Friday night, police responded to a report made by a twelve-year-old girl at the Port Kaituma Station that her father and mother were involved in an argument and he had threatened to burn down their house at Main Road, Port Kaituma, NWD. The premises also housed a shop.

“On their way to the scene the police observed that the building was on fire and suspecting that persons were inside attempted to enter the building, but was prevented from doing so by a locked grill door,” police force spokesman, Ivelaw Whittaker said in a statement.

The police ranks and nearby residents formed a bucket brigade but were unable to extinguish the blaze, Whittaker said. Investigations are in progress.